Buying my first cannister

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Wolfy

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I have a 55-gallon tank with 2 large silver dollars (4"), one Texas cichlid (6"), one Synodontis cat (5") and one pimodella cat (4"). My current filtration consists of two Penguin 330s and I only use the polyester batting for filter media. I change 50% of the water every 7-10 days and I change the filter media at the same time.

The fish are doing well but I do have a problem that the water is not as clear as I would like it to be. If you look straught on, the water looks ok but if you walk by the tank from the side, the water has a green tint (algae). I was considering the purchase of a Hot Magnum 250 to improve the water clarity. Does anybody have any positive experience with the Hot Magnum filters? Or should I consider a more traditional cannister filter (Eheim, Fluval, or Filstar)? Any suggestions would be appreciated. One note, this tank sits on a wooden buffet not on a traditional wooden aquarium stand so I don't have much room under the tank to store a cannister - that is part of the reason I was considering the Hot Magnum.

Thanks!
 
I bought my first Eheims about 3 months ago. A pair of 2028 Pro II's for 125 gallon Oscar tank. They were easy to set up, do an excellent job of filtration and are exceptionally quiet. I probably won't go with any other brand as I replace filters and/or add tanks. Check out www.bigalsonline.com for pricing. If you buy one be sure to get one with the media included. It's cheaper that way.
 
if the water has a green tint, adding another filter wont clear up the problem.

the only cause of algae is high nutrients in your water, either your source water, or overfeeding, overstocking, etc.

limit the nutrients and the water will clear up. Do larger or more frequent water changes.

Despite what everyone says, light, by itself, does not cause algae blooms. high nutrient levels do. You could have 500 watts of light over your tank, and if you had low nutrient levels, you wouldnt have any algae.
 
I've had a a Filstar XP3 for about the past 6 to 8 weeks and I've been generally pretty happy with it. However, you have to keep the intake clear (i have a pre-filter sponge over it to reduce maintenance) or the outflow will exceed the inflow and you can get air in it.

For this latter reason, if you are willing to spend the money, I'd go with an Eheim 2028. If you are trying to be a little cheaper, the Filstars are good, just watch your filters.
 
I adore my eheims but they are not the best at mechanical filtration, and as slip says it is excess nutrients not filtration that is the real issue.
A Magnum 350 will micro filter, or better yet a Vortex diatom filter would temporarily clear the tank.
good luck
:)
 
As others have said, your problem is not filtration related but nutrient related...It sounds like you do enough water changes (50% every 7-10) so perhaps it is a tap water issue...Have you tested your tap water for phosphates?
 
Check your ammonia and nitrite levels. I assume you put in new media everytime you change the media in your filters? If thats the case, I'm curious as to how your ammonia and nitrite levels are.
IME with plant tanks, and from what I've heard ammonia can more or less cause a tank to undergo a very nasty algae bloom, especially under high lighting. If your tank is under a constant source of light and has trace readings of ammonia, I think thats where your problem lies.
Increase the amount of biological filtration on your tank (a canister will do quite well for that). Do a black out for a few days with a heavy blanket, and that should solve your green water problems. For biological filtration, you do not want to replace the media with new stuff once a week. Leave the media where it is, put a prefilter on the intake of the canister to prolong the life of the biomedia.
IME, fluvals and eheims are pretty good canisters. I own two fluval 404s, and one Eheim 2026. I'm currently considering an Eheim ECCO (unsure of size atm). I haven't heard much of the ECCO, so that decision is still pending.

HTH
-Richer
 
Originally posted by wiEngineer
..... or the outflow will exceed the inflow and you can get air in it.
Click to expand...
Ok.. I am really lost here. How can you get air in a canister filter? Seems to me there must be a leak in your hoses, or the top of the canister is not sealed properly.
 
Thanks for all of the great advice. One of my main considerations is cost since I am on a tight budget. I want to make sure that I make the right choice with this purchase. I am also going to be careful about the amount of food that I put in the tank. With big fish it is hard at times because you would assume that their appetites would also increase as their size increases.
 
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